Mekong discoveries: 234 unknown species in Southeast Asia unveiled!

Mekong discoveries: 234 unknown species in Southeast Asia unveiled!

Greater Mekong Region, Südostasien - the Mekong, one of the most important lifeline in Southeast Asia, has proven to be a true diversity of biodiversity in recent years. According to a current report by the WWF, an incredible 234 new species were discovered in the "Greater Mekong" room in 2023, including fascinating plants and animals. Particularly noteworthy is a green-black pitcher that is reminiscent of figures from a fantasy film with its “eyelash scales”. Furthermore, a dragon-like lizard and a bright orange crocodile toilet were found, the discoveries of which caused a sensation, so reported today.at .

rich finds, but serious threats

Overall, 173 plants, 26 reptiles, 17 amphibians, 15 fish and three mammals were documented in the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, which increases the total number of species described since 1997 to over 3,600. These new discoveries, said Georg Scattolin from WWF Austria, are particularly alarming in the middle of massive threats from human activities such as illegal poaching, deforestation and the construction of gigantic hydropower plants that have negative effects on the local ecosystem. The discoveries often come from cooperation between scientists and the local population, including citizen scientists who have contributed to research and documentation, such as Monababay reported.

The new discoveries are not only impressive, but also an urgent appeal to protect the unique habitats in the Mekong Delta. Despite the encouraging results, the future of these species is seriously at risk, since many of them will probably die out before they are even described scientifically. The challenge is to ensure this new species through sustainable protective measures and legal regulations to survive, because the pressure of illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss is enormous in the region.